“I could never forget about Oliver,” Elias says, tugging the blanket back to reveal a tiny, sleeping bundle.
“Oh my, how old is he?” I ask. “You must have just had him.”
“A week yesterday,” Bethany answers as if it’s nothing.
“A week old and you traveled up here for the wedding?” I ask, touching the baby’s hand.
“We’re a bit adventurous,” Elias says.
“It runs in the family,” Gavin grins, side-hugging his brother.
“You can say that again,” Bethany says, but I can tell by her smile that she’s just as fearless as they are. Add Holly and Ben to the mix and they really are a wild bunch.
“Dad, look,” Brody says. “They have ladder ball. I wanna play!”
“Awesome idea, bud,” Gavin says, scooping up his nephew. “I think we should all play, and I wantyouon my team.”
“Well, I am a pretty good ball thrower,” Brody says.
“You hear that, brother?” Gavin asks. “He’s a good ball thrower. You’re toast.”
Ben and Holly arrive, and then several other people arrive; clearly, they are all family or close friends up for the wedding. They are all hanging around the sets of ladder ball and it turns into a regular tournament. Even Josie, who is on her third cider, gets in on the action, leaving me, Bethany, and Evie on the side.
“Are you going to play?” Bethany asks me.
“Oh no, I’m not very good at sports,” I say.
“Ladder ball is easy, though. Fun too,” she says. Then she looks down at Evie. “Sweetie, are you going to play?”
I can tell Evie is the quietest one in the bunch. I feel for her. “Not unless you do,” she says.
“Mommy can’t really play right now, baby. I have to hold Oliver.”
“But you’re always on my team at home,” she whines, and I can tell Bethany is aching to get in on the action. Then she turns to me.
“Any chance you have baby fever?” she asks, and it catches me completely off guard.
“I…what? I mean, I–”
“Do you wanna hold the baby?” she asks with a smile.
“Oh,” I say and something in me tugs me closer to her. “Sure. I’d love to.”
Bethany passes the baby to me, and instinctively, I start swaying back and forth. He’s fast asleep, but I can feel him repositioning himself in my arms. He’s so very small. He’s a complete little person.
He snuggles into my arms, and I feel his warmth against me. He smells like warm milk and baby powder; it is the most delicious scent in the world. I’ve held babies before, but something about it is different this time. Something is stirring inside of me, like a warm flutter of emotions I’ve never felt before, and yet it’s the most natural thing I’ve ever known. His lips flicker as he dreams, and he lets out a small soft coo. I pat his back, rocking him back and forth, quietly hushing him until he settles again.
I don’t even realize it until I blink, but my eyes are hot with tears. All these new emotions are overwhelming. I’m not upset, but I don’t know what to do with them.
I’m pulled back into the room when I hear everyone cheering and clapping. Brody scored a winning point for him and Gavin’s team, and Brody is joyfully leaping in the air. I watch as Gavin picks him up, launching him into the air and catching him again.
It looks so natural to him, probably because he is a father. Even with his brother’s kids, his love is paternal. My eyes are no longer just stinging. Hot tears stream down my cheeks as I wonder if maybe, just maybe, he could ever possibly feel that way for my baby. For our baby.
Chapter 25
Gavin
“Billiards must bea game that you get worse at with age,” Elias says as he sinks a striped ball into the corner pocket. This, of course, is after I missed my last shot.
